As the Navigating Uncertainty book shows, the politics of risk are centred on calculative, technocratic control, where we assume we can predict, model and manage. A politics of uncertainty by contrast is all about socially embedded, networked learning, flexibility, adaptation, innovation; often centred on a politics of care and conviviality.
A shift from a risk to an uncertainty paradigm, one that requires moving from a focus on control to one of care has many implications for policy and practice.
This article is from Zimbabweland, a blog written by IDS Research Fellow Ian Scoones. Zimbabweland focuses on issues related to rural livelihoods and land reform in Zimbabwe.
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The views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author/s and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of IDS.
